Back to Moab

We went back to Moab again this weekend. This time we took the dogs with us. Matt and Jen had invited us down for Matt's birthday party. We had been planning to go for weeks. Then my dad and Billy were both out of town and we didn't know what to do with the dogs. Matt and Jen said they didn't mind if we brought them down. So we decided on Friday that we were all piling in the car and heading to Moab that night. Paul had a long day of packing while I was at work. I got home and helped finish getting things around and we left the house at 7pm.

I'm going to interrupt with a little tidbit about our car. We contemplated getting the Captain's seats in this row but I wanted to go with the bench. We actually had a pretty tough time finding the options we wanted, with the bench. Because noone gets the bench I guess when they get more options. It wasn't something I really "wanted" but I felt like we needed it. First, we have used the extra seat a few times. Second, it makes it a lot easier to contain the dogs into the back. Third, THIS wouldn't be possible if we didn't have it. When we have taken road trips I have spent a lot of time in the back seat keeping two kids happy. I wouldn't have been able to do that with captain's chairs. So for this point in our life, I think we made the right decision by going with the bench.

Back to our trip....Here we are heading out(me in the back seat).



Audrey during the trip.


We figured 7pm would be a good time to leave because the kids would both sleep most of the ride down. It seemed like it worked until we arrived in Moab. Both of them woke up as we took them inside. Neither of them wanted to go back to sleep. We spent about an hour getting them back to sleep. We didn't get to bed until 1230ish, which is almost 4 hrs past my bedtime.

Both of them were up bright and early at 6am. No sleeping in for us! Paul got up with them and I got just a little bit more sleep. Jen made us a very yummy breakfast. Paul had enough food to probably feed 6 people. I went out for a run and then we all went for a hike. The dogs had so much fun being out hiking and playing in the water. We did Left Fork hike. It is along a creek so we knew the dogs and Colin would have fun.

Audrey in the Ergo


Pictures of us hiking










I either need to get a new hat or Paul needs to make sure it hasn't flipped up making me a pirate in pictures


Colin throwing rocks






Here is Colin hiking. As you can tell, we didn't go very fast.


Audrey in her carseat after the hike. She was a little warm



When we got back we all took very much needed naps. The dogs stayed outside the whole time we were down there except for sleeping at night. They were so good. They barely barked and did really well in their yard for the weekend. And for that, they will get to come again!

After naps we had dinner and showered up. Jen's babysitter got there to watch the kids. She watched Hannah, Colin, Audrey and two other kids ages 6 and 8. We were really nervous leaving the kids with her. First off, WE don't actually know her. Second, we have never left them with someone they didn't know. We were worried that after Friday night that Colin would give her a really hard time and not go to bed. They did pretty well though. She said that around 8 she asked Colin if he wanted to go to bed and he said "yep" and she took him in and he went right to sleep. I was glad it went so well, we'll have to start doing that more often.

While the kids were with the babysitter we headed out to Matt's birthday party. It was at Andrew and Autumn's house. We have heard so much about them but hadn't yet met them. They have a beautiful house. The party was a lot of fun. It was nice to hang out with adults and have a few drinks. They had it as a casino night and we played Craps for hours. I actually learned a decent amount about the game and didn't do too bad. Again, we were out WAY past our bedtime and didn't get to bed until after 2.

And again the next morning Audrey decided to get up at 6am, Colin slept in a little until 7. I got up a little after 7 and watched all the kids while Paul and Matt went and played some golf.

One of the great things about going to Matt and Jen's is they have tons of toys and baby things so we don't really have to bring much with us.

Here is Audrey in Hannah's Bumbo. We also used it as a booster seat for Colin


Colin and Hannah had fun playing together. They fought over toys some, but for the most part enjoyed playing together. It's not the best video but the best one we got.


It was definitely an exhausting trip....mainly because we didn't sleep either night, but we can't wait to go back.